James Franklin Makes Signing Day Something Special For Penn State

STATE COLLEGE, PA - JANUARY 11: James Franklin, head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions addresses the media on January 11, 2014 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

File photo of James Franklin, head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions. (Credit: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

By Andrew Porter

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – For Penn State football fans, National Signing Day hasn’t really been a big deal. National Signing Day hasn’t been a spectacle at Penn State, until now that is.

New Penn State head coach and Langhorne, PA native, James Franklin, decided to make National Signing Day a celebration for the Penn State community for the first time in school history.

Franklin allowed behind the scenes access into Penn State’s “war room” throughout the day, where each commit was announced as a draft selection by various people involved in the football program, from the athletic director to Franklin’s daughters. ESPN reporter, Pedro Gomez, was on-hand covering signing day in Happy Valley as well.

Franklin and Penn State ended the day with an impressive 25 commits, good enough for the 24th best class in the nation according to ESPN.

Franklin also created the ‘Signature Event’, which was held Wednesday Night at the Bryce Jordan Center to honor the incoming high school seniors. Former and current Penn State football players were on hand, and arguably the two best linebackers ever to wear blue and white, Michael Mauti and LaVar Arrington emceed the event along with Franklin himself. New commits were recognized, the blue band provided the music, the Lionettes danced, and everyone got fired up for Penn State football.

He’s only been at Penn State for a few weeks, but James Franklin is quickly making an impact.

Andrew Porter is the Audio Roadshow Coordinator for SportsRadio WIP, editor and writer for The School Philly, and a contributing sports blogger for CBS Philly. You can follow him on Twitter @And_Porter.